Natural occurrence of asbestos in serpentinite quarries from Southern Spain

Our plain-English summary of Natural occurrence of asbestos in serpentinite quarries from Southern Spain, by A. Bloise, C. Ricchiuti, R. Navarro, et al (Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 2021).

The study

• Authors: A. Bloise, C. Ricchiuti, R. Navarro, R. Punturo, G. Lanzafame, D. Pereira
• Journal: Environmental Geochemistry and Health
• Published: 2021;43(8):2965-2983
• Cited by: 5 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher

Abstract

The nevado-filábride complex (NFC) (southern Spain) is well known for its widespread mining and quarrying activities. Serpentinite and metabasite rocks are extracted, processed and traded as building and ornamental stones. Due to the possible presence of natural occurrence of asbestos (NOA) in these rocks, the aim of this paper is to conduct an in-depth characterisation of fibrous minerals. To this aim, seven serpentinite rock samples were collected in four quarries located in the Sierra Nevada and Sierra de los Filabres (South-eastern Spain), which were then analysed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive spectrometry (SEM/EDS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) and X-ray synchrotron microtomography (SR-µCT). It is essential to investigate asbestos minerals from both scientific and legal perspective, especially for public health officials that implement occupational health and safety policies, in order to safeguard the health of workers (e.g. quarry excavations, road yards, civil constructions, building stones).

© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. part of Springer Nature.

In plain English

This was a laboratory study of rock samples. The authors examined seven serpentinite rock samples from four quarries in the Sierra Nevada and Sierra de los Filabres in south-eastern Spain to look for naturally occurring asbestos. They used X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy with chemical analysis, thermal analysis and synchrotron X-ray microtomography. The asbestos minerals they found were chrysotile and tremolite. Tremolite was found in two samples (CA1 and NG) and chrysotile in four (CA1, VM2, VG2 and VG1). Two samples (VM1 and CA2) contained no asbestos. Most of the chrysotile and tremolite fibres analysed were longer than 5 micrometres. In three of the four chrysotile samples, small amounts of chromium were detected, about 0.29 percent by weight. Nickel was detected inconsistently, at an average of 1.68 percent by weight. Some fibres did not meet the definition of asbestos. The authors judged sample CA1, from La Carrasca quarry, the most harmful because it contained both chrysotile and tremolite. They concluded that workers should take appropriate safety precautions when extracting rocks from these quarries.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Laboratory mineralogical analysis of rock samples (X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectrometry, thermal analysis, synchrotron X-ray microtomography)
• Who was studied: Seven serpentinite rock samples from four quarries in the Sierra Nevada and Sierra de los Filabres, south-eastern Spain (Barranco de San Juan, Niguelas, Virgen del Rosario, La Carrasca); collection dates not given
• Exposure: Naturally occurring asbestos in serpentinite quarried as building and ornamental stone; the asbestos minerals identified were chrysotile and tremolite
• Main results:
  • Tremolite was found in two of the seven samples (CA1 and NG). Chrysotile was found in four (CA1, VM2, VG2, VG1).
  • Two samples, VM1 (Virgen del Rosario) and CA2 (La Carrasca), contained no asbestos.
  • Most chrysotile and tremolite fibres analysed were longer than 5 micrometres.
  • In chrysotile fibres, chromium was detected in three of four samples at about 0.29 percent by weight, though not at every analysis point. Nickel was detected inconsistently, at an average of 1.68 percent by weight.
  • Some fibres did not meet the definition of asbestos. Fibrous non-asbestos minerals (polygonal serpentine and magnesium-hornblende) were also detected.
  • The authors judged sample CA1 (La Carrasca quarry) the most harmful to human health because it contained both chrysotile and tremolite asbestos.
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that workers should take appropriate safety precautions when extracting rocks from these quarries, and that any extension of quarry operations requires detailed mineralogical studies.

Topics

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Serpentinite, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Asbestos.

Related studies

• Chrysotile asbestos in serpentinite quarries: a case study in Valmalenco, Central Alps, Northern Italy — A. Cavallo, B. Rimoldi (2013)
• Analysis of serpentine polymorphs in investigations of natural occurrences of asbestos — J. Wagner (2015)
• The Presence of Asbestos in the Natural Environment is Likely Related to Mesothelioma in Young Individuals and Women from Southern Nevada — F. Baumann, B.J. Buck, et al. (2015)
• No Increased Risk for Mesothelioma in Relation to Natural-Occurring Asbestos in Southern Nevada — P.S. Pinheiro, H. Jin (2015)
• Reply to "No Increased Risk for Mesothelioma in Relation to Natural-Occurring Asbestos in Southern Nevada" — F. Baumann, B.J. Buck, et al. (2015)
• Natural Occurrence of Amino Acids in Virgin Crocidolite Asbestos and Banded Ironstone — J.S. Harington (1962)

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